Teaming up for a good cause

Two Southeast Asian Games gold medalists from different sports are teaming up for a good cause during the lockdown. Karate’s Jamie Lim and wushu’s Agatha Wong are putting together a five-episode Instagram live series to raise funds for the benefit of PUIs and COVID-19 patients in health facilities and the Philippine General Hospital.

The first episode starts at 5 this afternoon. It will show for 30 minutes on Instagram over their accounts @jamiechristinelim and @agathawongy. The series, entitled “Puso: The Battle Against COVID-19,” will be aired every Wednesday and Saturday for five episodes. The initial installment is “Q&A with J&A.” Jamie and Agatha will be ready to answer any question that comes their way.

The athletes will tackle all things related to sports and health. They’re coordinating with health care facilities to channel the proceeds of whatever they’re able to raise. At the end of every week, updates will be posted in their Instagram accounts on how much has been donated. “What we hope for by the end of this fund-raiser is to inspire others through our experiences as national athletes, promote the importance of sports especially to the younger generation and to deepen everyone’s understanding of karate and wushu while fighting this health war together as a nation,” they said. To place a donation, you may deposit in the account of Jamie Christine B. Lim at BPI 2900008743, BDO 7018006040 or GCash 09178820947.

Agatha, 21, said there was no hesitation on her part when Jamie, 22, asked her to join forces. “Jamie voiced out that she wanted to help Quezon City and do her small part as a citizen,” said Agatha who bagged two gold medals in the wushu events of taijiquan and taijijian at the SEA Games last December. “Living in Q.C. myself, I jumped at the opportunity. You don’t get to help a lot of people every day and just staying at home, I wanted to at least contribute my aid to those in need.”

How Agatha and Jamie met was like it was destined. “We actually met only last December by chance,” said Agatha. “We were invited to attend the closing ceremonies of the SEA Games and just before marching out, I went to the restroom looking for a vacant cubicle and Jamie happened to be there to help me find one. Then, we had no contact until just before Christmas, we were both invited with Hidilyn (Diaz) to dine and celebrate our victory at Resorts World Manila. That was when we became friends and started to follow each other on Instagram. Then, a week or two ago, Jamie contacted me about the fund-raiser. I think we share a lot of similar values and morals so we really click together in this partnership.”

Agatha said since the lockdown, it’s been difficult to train like she did before with the same intensity. “After being told to stay home at all costs, I still exercise and train twice a day Monday to Saturday,” she said. “At home, I don’t have a gym. I just make do with what space I have and sometimes, that’s enough although I miss jumping around in the gym. For now, I’m enduring just like everybody else and I’m grateful to be able to move my body every day.”

Agatha went to Holy Spirit high school in Ilang-Ilang, Q.C. then decided to enroll in a college near the gym where she trains at Rizal Memorial. Her choices were either La Salle Taft or College of St. Benilde. “I initially thought of studying sports science but only UST and UP offered the course,” she said. “Since I was already a national athlete, traveling every year, I chose Benilde for multi-disciplinary studies, particularly Consular and Diplomatic Affairs which I thought could help me in all aspects of my life and it did. At Benilde, I learned perseverance, resilience, discipline and how to distinguish the fine line between being professional and not professional. I loved Benilde for that. I entered the school uncertain of what I would experience and I left the school with so many lessons under my belt and today, I’m still applying those lessons.”